History

• In the years 2023-2024, the building No. 77 underwent repairs of the dilapidated facade, restoration of paintings and replacement of windows. 
• In 2024, the facades and paintings on buildings Nos. 78 and 79 were also repaired, with the historically documented relief of an ostrich being restored to the facade of No. 78. 

• Since 1. January 2002 the name of the library has been changed to the Pardubice Regional Library – the founder is the Pardubice Region and the library has the form of a subsidised organisation. 
• In 2002, all branches of the original District Library were transferred to the districts of the Municipality of Pardubice. 
• In 2003, the house No. 79 U Zlatého Beránka was purchased to expand the library. 
• In 2005, the reconstruction and extension of house No. 79 was completed, opening a new children’s department, reading room, methodological department, educational hall, information department and rest areas. 

• Between 1998 and 2000, the library’s interior was extensively renovated at houses Nos. 77 and 78. This renovation included connecting the spaces, establishing a large free selection of books, a free cloakroom, improved services for the challenged users, and the installation of computers with internet access for the public. 

• In 1990, the Political Department was abolished and the process of automation and ITC implementation began. 
• In 1991 the Music Department was reopened. 
• In 1992, the library expanded its services to include a Regional Cultural Services Center. 
• In 1994, the Information Department was opened and computers were introduced for the public. 

• After the revolution in 1989, banned titles were released from the depositories. 

• After the dissolution of the Pardubice Region in 1960 and the creation of the East Bohemian Region, the library continued functioning as the District Library in Pardubice. 
• In the same year, the library moved to newly renovated spaces at Pernštýnské square No. 77, which opened in September. 
• The year 1960 was also crucial for the library because of the opening of six new branches in the districts of Skřivánek, Studánka, Pardubičky, Slovany, Okrouhlík and Jagermannova (now Husova). The Municipal Reading Room was also incorporated under the administration of the library. 
• In 1962, the reconstruction of the house No. 78 was started, so it was adapted to the needs of the library. 
• In 1968, a Political Department was created in the library, reflecting the influence of the contemporary situation. 
• During the normalisation period in 1968, the library’s stock of unwanted titles was purposely sorted and eliminated. 
• In 1969, the reconstruction of house No. 78 was completed, the building was approved and the new premises were opened to the public. 

• Between 1939 and 1945, the German Department was established, and there was a deliberate discarding of unsuitable titles and hiding of the collections of defunct Czech libraries from the Sudetenland. The lack of funds for new books was solved by the proceeds of the play “Master of the Sharp Sword”, which was staged by librarian Vavřík on 22 July 1940. 
• In 1941, the first branch of the library at Skřivánek was opened and a Youth Department was established, thus expanding the scope of the library’s services. 
• In 1942, the summer reading room “Sadová knihovna” in Tyršové sady (formerly Výstavní) was opened, providing readers with a pleasant place to read in a natural environment. 
• Between 1945 and 1948, the library stabilised, its collections developed and the number of readers grew considerably, with approximately 10% of the population (3 063 people) registered. 
• In 1949, the library began to serve as a municipal, district and regional library within the newly established Pardubice Region (until 1960). 
• In the same year, a separate Children’s Department was opened in Sladkovského Street, which contributed to better accessibility of library services for younger readers. 

• In 1931, the library moved to new space at 116 Smetana Embankment. 
• In 1938, the library was moved to the municipal house at No. 49 U Divadla Street, today’s pediatrician’s practice, and began to provide services in the new environment. 
• After the occupation in 1938, the library was closed for one year, temporarily interrupting its activities. 
• In 1939, the library reopened, and in addition, a new Music Department was established to enrich its service range. 

• In 1929, the library moved to the more spacious building of the Real School (Realschule in German) on Komenský square. 

• In 1916 the library moved to new premises at Na Hrádku no. 105 (today the headquarters of the main post office). 
• In 1917 and 1918 the library was temporarily suspended due to the political situation. 
• In 1919, after the passing of the Public Libraries Act of 22 July, the library was restored. This law ordered municipalities to establish libraries, and the Czech Republic became the country with the densest library network in the world.

• On 7 July 1897, the first Public Municipal Library in Pardubice was inaugurated on the 2nd floor of the Town Hall on Pernštýnské Square. 
  
• In 1900, the first Public Reading Room in Pardubice was opened separately from the library. 

In 1905, under the leadership of the owner Gustav Oesterreicher, the house underwent significant changes – the doors and windows were modified and an electric coffee roasting plant was built in the warehouse. Over the years, there have been repeated requests for minor repairs to the facades, which led to the uncovering of some of the original Renaissance fresco paintings. In 1939, the house became a Jewish confiscate and the Oesterreicher family was deported to Terezín. 

In 1941–1942, the Pardubice municipality bought the house and used it as rental housing. In 1945 it served as the headquarters of the police and the SNB. In 1947, half of the house was returned to the Oesterreicher heirs, while the other half remained in the ownership of the state. Unfortunately, the complex property relations led to the decay of the building, which led to an eviction order in 1951. 

 In 1955, the probing of the facades began and the paintings were gradually documented. During the reconstruction, the main facade was restored in the original Renaissance style, while the southern part in Zelenobranská Street was left in the Louis XVI. style, with the missing reliefs from the front of the house being transferred. The renovation of the facades was completed in 1960, at the same time as a partial reconstruction for the library. The owner of the building at that time was the municipality. 

In 1971–1972, an elevator was added to the courtyard, and in 1983, the original work was resumed and the restoration of the facades continued. The first major renovation of building no. 77 (at the same time as building no. 78) took place between 1998 and 2000, when the premises were extended with the addition of loft space and historic cellars. The Pardubice Region became the owner of the building. 

In the years 2023–2024, the deteriorated condition of the over-window ledges was repaired, the windows on the south side were replaced, and the facade, paintings and stone elements were repaired. 

The building files, which have survived since 1899, give us an overview of the historical changes in this important property. At that time the building was owned by Karel Jířínský, then in 1902 it passed into the ownership of Antonie Hojerová. In 1920 it was taken over by Anna Hojerová – Jedličková, and in 1924 it became the property of the Hojerová heirs. 

The building has undergone several repairs over the years, including restoration of the facade due to its poor condition and “swan fall”. In 1926, a water system was installed and the commercial space was remodeled. Later, in 1942, electricity was introduced, a significant step in the modernization of the building. 

In 1955, probing of the facades began, during which ceramic (2nd floor) and stone (1st floor) window linings were discovered. The reconstruction for the library took place between 1962 and 1969, when the houses No. 77 and No. 78 were connected. Between 1998 and 2000 a major renovation took place, which included the addition of loft extensions and historic cellars. Unique features such as the beamed ceiling and diamond vault were restored. In 2024, the facade and paintings were repaired, including the restoration of the historic ostrich relief between the first floor windows. The owner is the Pardubice Region. 

The house is named after the characteristic sculpture of a lamb located above the entrance. It is equipped with three window axes, a diamond cornice and a triangular gable. It dates back to the beginning of the 16th century, before the great fire of the town. Inside, the painted decoration of the ceilings on the first floor and many stone elements in the corridors have been preserved. 

The first historically documented owner was Zikmund Vahanský of Vahančice in 1545. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the house changed hands frequently – a fischmeister, a carpenter, a café owner and a pensioner of the Poděbrady estate lived here. The house was often owned by widows. In 1918 it was owned by Rudolf and Růžena Weiner, who lived here until the occupation and deportation to a concentration camp. 

In 1990 the house was purchased by Komerční banka, and in 2002 it became the property of the Pardubice Region to serve as an extension of the library. A new part of the courtyard was added to the building and a new depository was built. In the summer of 2024, the facade was repaired to return the building to its original appearance.